Before their bathroom was renovated to allow wheelchair entry and a lift system installed to hoist their 16-year-old granddaughter Samantha, who is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, to bathe and bed, Larry and Joan Reuck in San Miguel used to lift her by hand.

With the assistance of community donors and supporters, students enrolled in Cal Poly’s Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department’s Spring 2009 IME 303, Project Organization & Management class, the Reucks will no longer have to worry that as aging caretakers they will be able to continue to be able to care for her needs.

Students recently completed a donation-funded, $100,000 renovation project for the Reucks’ home, located at the corner of 14th and K streets, as part the Poly House project that brought improvements such as a lift and roll-in shower.

“They’re miracle workers,” Joan said. “They work miracles — they do.”

The 42 students spent six weeks planning and two weekends constructing and completely transforming the family’s 1960s-era constructed home into a handicapped-friendly and fully renovated space during the second and third weekends of May.

Students select homes for Poly House project based on the needs of the individual.

Samantha was born with a congenital heart defect that required open heart surgery. After the third surgery, she suffered a severe stroke that was caused by a blood clot and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy from the brain injury. The Ruecks were presented with many challenges in their old house — carpeting, which made wheelchair movement difficult, the difficulties of bathing her in small bathroom — the list goes on.





For the complete article see the 05-29-2009 issue.

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